Of course US cannot underestimate its opponent. But does US have real opponents? Russia and China, though not allies, are not opponents. US has friendly relationship with both countries.
But when it comes to technology, do you really believe that overall, Russian technology can complete with the US technology?
Just wondeing, how many people here believe that this is true?
I thought we were talking about Japan, but to answer your question, yes i do think Russia can compete with the US, and not only Russia but many other counties.
Russia is competitive in many feilds with the US. For insance, Russian SAMS, IRST, and Rocket engines are considered atleast as good or better, if you don't beleive me the US uses Russian rocket engines.
Russians were also inavators in many feild; for instance, the Mig-31 came with the world's first PESA, and the first data link to automatically prioritize and assess the most dangerous targets, of course many say Russians don't have much experience in data links...go figure.
Russians were also the first to launch a satelite, the first to have HMS, first to have 3d TVC, and the first to have a supersonic vstol, infact the technology from the vstol (yak-141) found its way into the F-35, via Lockheeds close cooperation with Yak and the assistance of Russian engineers. There is more firsts but that's enough to get the idea.
There are many coutries that are able to compete with the US in terms of technology. If we look at tanks, for instance, the Leopard and Merkava can compete with the Abrams, the Typhoon can compete with all legacy US fighters and even Swedish submarines can compete with US submarines. To prove this the US leased a Swedish submarine, that submarine was able to evade US subs and sink US carriers in simulated exercises.
I may sound link a fanboy, but i'm not, the US does lead Russia in many feilds such as UAV's and stealth.
ptldM3..clever of you but failed attempt..Never under estimate you opponent does not mean russia will come up with exactly systems like F-22/F-35 years away by that time F-22/F-35 would have gone with upgrades and Japanese wouldn't be interested in unproven systems though never the less until not tried can't be called failed at the same time but as a clever person that you are I am going to ask you you'll take a proven system or unproven that'll be inducted say in 2016-2018 vs F-35...so before replying to cheer you're self up and you're endians re-read and properly comprehend other's post..
never under estimate your opponent you betcha but vs us technologies perhaps after 10+ years in case of russia, YF-23 even today is much advance project combined with F-35 technologies and systems the project can be completed even much faster than before pak-fa is inducted. Realistically russians will come up with a good stealth fighter to compete in the market with cheap price tag but vs F-35s tech superiority close close enough if in miraculous in next couple of years where would be F-35 standing in next 6-8 years when pak-fa first plane might roll out way ahead you know that, i know that..party over for you and you're thanking buddies..
shooting down satellites is huge achievement ask defense specialists I am sure they'll give you in depth analysis that was an immature question..by the way it was to a comment made by an elite member making fun so i compared satellites to iraq dream WMD how it sounds..don't get hurt if i said it'll fk russians because its the reality japs would prefer proven technologies..
I don't understand why you're talking about the Japanese choosing the F-35 over Pak-fa, how does you bashing Russian aviation turn into Japan choosing Y over X? also you're miss using the word "you're", the word you're is a contraction for, you-are.
You also miss understood what i meant by shooting down "space junk" shooting down a satelite is valuable. However, that's not what i was refering to, you made it seem like shooting down a satelite or anything in orbit, for that matter, is extremely difficult, and although it isn't easy it also isn't too difficult, the US and Russia, fo instance, shot down objects in the earths orbit some 40 years ago.